Tim Tebow Is No Lock to Earn Patriots Roster Spot

New England Patriots third-string quarterback Tim Tebow isn't guaranteed a roster spot this year, despite the fact that many people believe otherwise. He's one player among dozens of others who must absolutely earn his place on the team's final 53-man roster.

Among those who believe Tebow's spot is secure is Ben Volin of the Boston Globe:

He astutely notes the difference between Tebow and a player who is brought on board as a "camp arm," argues his usefulness as a read-option scout quarterback and points out that the Patriots need more guys like Tebow in the locker room.

But in the end, Tebow will be cut if the Patriots don't see enough out of him this preseason to conclude he has the potential to become a starting quarterback in the near future.

Many in the media, myself included, concluded that the Patriots would perhaps use Tebow as a tight end/h-back player this year while Rob Gronkowski recovers from his offseason surgeries. It didn't take long, however, for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to shoot down this speculation, as reported by Volin.

Tebow will be a quarterback on New England's roster this year, or he'll be looking for work.

There's no middle ground.

And, from what we've heard coming out of Patriots camp this summer, Tebow continues to struggle in practice, as he did when he was a member of the New York Jets. Volin noted this in his column about why Tebow would not be cut, as did Tom E. Curran of ComcastSportsNet New England: